Editions

Dean Ritchie: 'I can't see any club from NSW wanting Wayne Bennett'

Dean 'Bulldog' Ritchie doesn't believe any clubs from NSW will
gamble on Wayne Bennett if Craig Bellamy gets a coaching gig up in
Brisbane.

In what has been the rugby league story of the week, Bellamy,
Bennett and the Broncos have all fronted the media to discuss
claims that the current Melbourne Storm coach will be heading north
to take the reigns up at Red Hill.

Former Blues coach Laurie Daley questioned what Bennett's
options were if Bellamy went north, and Bulldog was fairly emphatic
in his response.

"I can't see what club would want him," Bulldog said on Big
Sports Breakfast.

"I found the whole thing embarrassing. For Wayne Bennett to have
to front up to a pack of media yesterday after 25 years in charge
and have to defend his position.

"I'm not a Wayne Bennett fan, I think he's a surly old bugger
and I think he could probably leave our game and we wouldn't miss
him.

"But I thought for his sake, it was disrespectful that he had to
get up there and defend his position and credentials."

When Bennett and Broncos CEO Paul White fronted the media on
Wednesday, it was discovered that the current coach originally went
to White and asked him to approach Bellamy.

‘’I was part of the conversations (regarding Bellamy) about a
month ago which I organised with the chairman and Paul White to
talk about our future going forward here as a club and it was all
part of the discussion there,’’ Bennett said.

‘’…I said we’d be silly not to look at Craig who was coming off
contract but the difficult thing for him is he’d have to sit out a
year.

‘’I told Paul that one of his responsibilities was to get the
best coach he possibly could for this club."

There has also been speculation that Bellamy and Bennett may
team up at the Broncos for 2019 in what would be an awkward
transition period, something that Bennett put to bed
immediately.

‘’That’s not going to happen, that’s just not going to happen,’’
Bennett said.

Radio host Terry Kennedy found it hard to believe that Wayne
Bennett "went to club management at the Brisbane Broncos and said
we need a succession plan."

"It's a ridiculous notion," Bulldog said.

"You can't have two coaches with such strong personalities
coaching one team."

Laurie Daley agreed that the man who was about to bring up his
800th game coaching the NRL deserved more respect.

"I think Wayne Bennett deserves more respect," Daley
claimed.

"He's given a lot to that club, I don't like the way it came
out. Someone from the Broncos or Storm has said something.

"No one can keep their mouth shut in rugby league, but I think
Wayne Bennett deserves a lot more respect than how it played
out.

"I hope that Craig Bellamy goes up and coaches the Brisbane
Broncos, but I don't think that will be the case, I think he'll
stay in Melbourne."